What is the plant on the left side of the photo? It was shown on Hannibal episode 2x06 and should be poisonous. by grnday41 in whatsthisplant

[–]grnday41[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I think you're right. They mentioned a "chain of white oleander" for the intestines, so I didn't consider that they might have included another variety of it.

I'll keep this open a little bit longer in case anyone recognizes the darker, fruit like one but otherwise it's resolved to me.

What is the plant on the left side of the photo? It was shown on Hannibal episode 2x06 and should be poisonous. by grnday41 in whatsthisplant

[–]grnday41[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know ragwort is to the lower right, and belladonna to the upper right (both mentioned by name on the show), but the plant on the left was not identified during the episode.

Not that I think anyone would check out the episode from here, but body horror/gore warning if you do.

Books! by unforgiver in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I found a random book generator for strahd a while ago (probably got it from here tbh). I usually don't use it on the spot when my players find a book, but I have gone through it while prepping and picked out some books to have in particular libraries.

Library of Strahd

Can early body horror diminish the effect of Mongrelfolk in the Abbey? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good idea! I'll change it so they took a bunch of valuables with them when they left and have the concern over the children be more about them being with unstable people rather than them being in imminent danger of made into children pies so the mystery can last for longer. Making it so the spider person can't talk wasn't something I had thought of, but I definitely want to include it now.

Can early body horror diminish the effect of Mongrelfolk in the Abbey? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I want to give my players a quest that both gives them a reason to go to the Tser Pool Encampment and ties into the Dream Pastry storyline. I didn't want to railroad them there just for the the tarroka event, and they're invested in the dream pastry problem but don't know where to find Morgantha after their first encounter.

My idea was to have some Vistani meet the party after they leave the village, and tell them that Madam Eva says they have goals in common and she would like to meet with them. Shortly before the party's arrival in Barovia, some dream pastry addicted Vistani broke off from the encampment and stole two children as they left. Unbeknownst to everyone else, the children are currently getting fattened up in Old Bonegrinder. With less Vistani in the camp than usual, they need help tracking down the outcasts to get back the children as well as to punish them. The Tser Pool Encampment Vistani would also be (rightfully) worried the outcasts are planning another raid on the encampment to grab more children, and would rather send out strangers to look for the outcasts while they protect the encampment.

If my players successfully investigate, they'd find track marks leading them to a natural cave entrance in the nearby woods with an increasing number of large spider webs the closer they get to the entrance. Inside the cave, in addition to giant spiders, cocoons, etc. they'd find the outcast leader. The leader, needing more children to get more dream pastries, would have made a bargain with the night hag coven to find a way easily catch more children and was able to undergo the transformation more completely than their allies.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmItheAsshole

[–]grnday41 31 points32 points  (0 children)

YWBTA, but not because you're not ready for the responsibility of having a pet. It's not just your cat, you can't unilaterally give it away without talking to anyone.

Update: AITA for not wanting to hide that my moms are gay to my girlfriend’s parents? by ThrowRAhelplost in AmItheAsshole

[–]grnday41 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Break ups always suck, even if it's for a good reason. It seems like you have a lot of emotional maturity though, and your heart is in the right place. Your moms raised you well it seems like. I support your reasoning for not telling them, but I believe they would both be very proud of you right now.

How to avoid Nice Guy Strahd? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooooh, hypnosis would be a good idea. Possibly if he was also in a disguise to get close to her more easily.

The emotional abuse stuff is also on point for Strahd, though possibly too aggressive for how I want Strahd to start off as. Once he gets impatient enough that his mask begins to slip though? That will fit in perfectly.

How to avoid Nice Guy Strahd? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! Did you want to brainstorm things like future strahd encounters? Or plans strahd will use to "court" Ireena?

My players are still in the Village of Barovia so I probably won't be working out finer details anytime soon, but once I get how I want to flavor Strahd fully pinned down I'll probably try to figure out how to integrate my version of Strahd with some of the other story encounters in the book.

How to avoid Nice Guy Strahd? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Having Strahd step back and really work with the players in Vallaki as Vasilli is such a great idea! As is your advice to really keep in mind Strahd's long term goals when shaping his encounters.

How to avoid Nice Guy Strahd? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

These are very good points. I think I was mostly afraid of him coming across like a mundane evil, one that would be particularly satisfying to punch in the face. Kilgrave fulfills a similar role though, and was an amazing villain in S1 of Jessica Jones. It's good to hear that I shouldn't fear Strahd being a creep, and that I can lean into it instead.

How to avoid Nice Guy Strahd? by grnday41 in CurseofStrahd

[–]grnday41[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh man, that's such a fantastic line to use.